Bayern Munich strolled past Bayer 04 Leverkusen 3-0 on Saturday to stay clear in the Bundesliga, having been temporarily dislodged three hours earlier when Borussia Moenchengladbach clinched a 1-0 win over Nuremburg.
Moenchengladbach have not won the league since 1977 and their most recent honor, in 2008, was the second division trophy.
However, Belgian defender Filip Daem’s 76th-minute penalty was enough to ensure that the five-time champions enjoyed a few hours top of the heap before Bayern Munich ruthlessly brushed aside Leverkusen.
Bayern’s opening goal came on five minutes from Thomas Mueller, with Belgian defender Daniel van Buyten netting the second on 19 minutes to effectively put the match to bed.
Leverkusen had not won in Munich in 22 attempts and without their flu-ridden former Bayern star Michael Ballack they offered little resistance.
Bayern now lead the way with 18 points from seven games, two clear of Moenchengladbach, who notched their fifth win of the season as they look to get back in touch with past glories.
Reigning champions Borussia Dortmund had to scrap as they came from a goal down to win 2-1 at FSV Mainz 05.
Dortmund have been on the ropes this term, losing three of their opening six matches, but they showed some grit after Nikolai Muller had put Mainz into a 33rd-minute lead.
The win moved Dortmund up three places to eighth and also provided a welcome tonic ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League visit to Olympique de Marseille.
Like Dortmund, neighbors Schalke 04 have been bouncing around in mid-table, but Spanish veteran forward Raul celebrated being offered an extension to his current deal with a goal in a 4-2 home win over SC Freiburg.
The victory was likewise a major boost for the club after coach Ralf Rangnick quit on Thursday, citing fatigue, to become the second coach this week to part company with a Bundesliga side.
Elsewhere, Ashkan Dejagah was on the mark for 10-man VfL Wolfsburg in a 1-0 win over Kaiserslautern, while promoted Augsburg and Hanover 96 parted goalless.
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